Is The Sandman DC or Marvel? Answered

There’s a new goth on the block with Netflix’s adaptation of Neil Gaiman’s cult classic series, The Sandman.

The dark fantasy series has dominated the streaming service and has won a legion of new fans but many are wondering where Dream’s story first began and where The Sandman fits into the growing number of tv shows based on comic books. Here’s everything we know about whether The Sandman is DC or Marvel.

Is The Sandman DC or Marvel?

The Sandman is indeed a DC property however, many fans view it as an entirely separate entity. This is because The Sandman is part of DC’s Vertigo imprint. Vertigo was introduced in 1993 by Karen Berger, who was, at the time, an editor for DC. The goal of Vertigo was to attract a more mature audience to DC comics by telling darker and more adult-orientated stories in their pages.

Vertigo comics featured cursing, graphic violence, and drug use, all of which were a no go for mainline comics in DC. It also allowed DC to explore the darker and more mystical side of its universe without having to worry about the overall continuity. Authors writing for Vertigo were allowed total creative freedom.

The Sandman, while initially, part of DC’s mainline of comics, eventually found a home at Vertigo which was designed to attract British writers like Neil Gaiman. Berger found the point of view of UK writers to be unique and edgier, making them a perfect fit for the brand. While The Sandman is technically part of the DC canon, it exists in its own corner of that universe, and it’s very rare to see Dream cross paths with other DC heroes.

Is The Sandman Canon To The DCEU?

Dream’s place in the DC universe in the comics mirrors the Netflix series’ relation to the DCEU. As it stands, The Sandman is not considered canon to the DCEU and is completely stand-alone. A comparison could be made to Matt Reeves’ The Batman, which took place outside the DCEU.

For context, The Sandman was in development hell with plans for a film adaptation dating all the way back to 1991. It’s fair to say that was well before the DCEU was even a twinkle in Zack Snyder’s eye.

The Sandman doesn’t have any connection to any DC property on screen. This is further evidenced by the inclusion of Johanna Constantine, played by Jenna Coleman, and based on John Constantine, who can be seen in the CW’s Legends of Tomorrow, played by Matt Ryan. Gwendolyn Christie also takes on the role of Lucifer Morningstar with a performance that is a far cry from Tom Ellis’ portrayal in the hit CW/Netflix series.

Despite The Sandman’s stand-alone nature, there are a few fun nods to the larger DC universe sprinkled throughout the series. Action figures of Batman, Wonder Woman, and The Flash have been spotted in the series, and there’s even a fun throwback to the animated DC series Static Shock.

That’s everything we know about whether The Sandman is Marvel or DC. Be sure to check out the rest of our Marvel and DC coverage, including our picks for who should play Wolverine in the MCU and the latest news about Joker: Folie à Deux